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Outdoor water features bring a sense of peace to your backyard, adding relaxing sights and sounds to your space. Concrete water features, such as ponds, fountains or birdbaths, require some maintenance to keep them in top shape. Coating them with a concrete sealer can help extend their lives and maintain their beauty.

Purpose

Sealing concrete fountains serves two main purposes. First, it helps protect the concrete from water damage. Because concrete is porous, the water seeps into it over time and causes it to erode or crack in the winter when temperatures drop. The sealer also helps keep the concrete from fading or looking weathered. This is especially important if your water features are painted or stained.

Types of Sealers

Acrylic-based sealers dry fairly quickly, usually in less than a day, and they stay true to their clear-coat claims. But they need to be reapplied at least every two years. Solvent-based sealers tend to yellow slightly after they dry, which sometimes takes two to three days. The yellow tinge can make your water features appear older than they are or dull paint and stain colors. These sealers usually last several years without needing to be reapplied. Both types come in spray and liquid forms. If you're coating a pond or fountain that has fish, choose a sealant that is rated safe for aquatic life -- the label should clearly state whether it is safe.

Prepare Your Water Feature

Before you seal a water feature, you must first get it ready so the sealer will adhere properly. Drain all the water out of the basin. Clean the concrete thoroughly, even if it's painted. Scrub it with water and dish-washing liquid to remove dirt and grime, and get bleach after mold or mildew that's accumulated on the water feature. Let it dry for about two days -- time your cleaning and sealing on days when no rain is expected, preferably when the weather is warm.

How to Apply

Applying a concrete sealer is basically the same as using paint. Use a roller or paintbrush for liquid sealer, applying an even coat. Starting at the top and working down can help you control drips, which can leave uneven lines in the sealer. If you're using a spray-on sealer, start and the top and spray back and forth over the water feature, making sure you have an even layer across the entire piece. Sprays are best used on intricate pieces, such as ornate birdbaths, rather than pond basins. Let the sealant dry thoroughly before replacing the water.

About the Author

Based outside Atlanta, Ga., Shala Munroe has been writing and copy editing since 1995. Beginning her career at newspapers such as the "Marietta Daily Journal" and the "Atlanta Business Chronicle," she most recently worked in communications and management for several nonprofit organizations before purchasing a flower shop in 2006. She earned a BA in communications from Jacksonville State University.